Pictured L to R at the presentation of an automated external defibrillator were: Mr Ger Tierney, Fleming Medical; Mr Lawrence Kenna, first responder; Ms Lynn Moran, first responder; and Mr Graham Cooke, Managing Director, GreenCross Publishing.
A life-saving defibrillator was recently presented to the Four Districts Community First Responder (CFR) Group, following an initiative by Green- Cross Publishing and Irish Pharmacist in association with Fleming Medical. Pharmacists were invited to nominate a facility or service which they saw as a worthy recipient of the defibrillator, in a setting where it could provide the most benefit.
Pharmacist Ms Deirdre McGlinchey of Rathcoole Pharmacy, Co Dublin, nominated her local Four Districts CFR Group, which recently took possession of the defibrillator. First responder Ms Lynn Moran commented: “As a member of the Four Districts Community First Responder (CFR) Group, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the donation of an AED (automated external defibrillator) by Deirdre and Fleming Medical, in association with GreenCross Publishing and Irish Pharmacist magazine.
We are a group of volunteers who are trained to attend cardiac and other life-threatening emergencies within our local communities, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Citywest and Saggart. When an incident occurs, the emergency services will alert the volunteer of the emergency.
“All CFR members live and work within the communities, therefore they can reach the patient within the first few minutes and commence life-saving treatment. The chances of survival following a cardiac arrest are considerably improved when the chain of survival is implemented — early access, early CPR, early defibrillation and early advanced cardiac life support.
To maximise our effort to save a life, we require training and equipment, such as AEDs. We are constantly fundraising to buy equipment, replenish our supplies and facilitate training and development. This very generous donation of an AED is a huge contribution to our service, but more importantly, it is a gift to our community.
According the Irish Heart Foundation, more than 70 per cent of cardiac arrests happen at home. With equipment and training, our CFR group is available to serve the community.”
